Gail Simone, writer of The New 52’s Batgirl, announced yesterday via Twitter that she would no longer to be Barbara Gordon’s scribe.

-Collected from Simone’s Twitter

This is my Yes-the-news-is-true-and-it-sucks super sad dance. Oddly, it’s square dancing. On Wednesday of last week, new Batgirl editor Brian Cunningham informed me by email that I was no longer the writer of Batgirl. It is baffling and sad, I will probably have a statement later today or maybe tomorrow. But I want to give huge, huge thanks to the other creators in the bat-offices, and editors Bobbie Chase and @yourpallsmitty, champions all. And the biggest thank you of all to you guys for supporting this book so hugely and making it a commercial and critical success. I honestly don’t have the words right now to thank you all. I’m pretty choked up and it’s all gratitude, not bitterness. I am very proud of what we accomplished with Batgirl and it was an honor to get to write Barbara Gordon again. Love that dame.

Simone’s exit from DC Comics was a blow to comic book fans. As The New 52’s Batgirl writer, she was tasked with bringing Barbara Gordon out of her wheelchair and back into her bat-suit. She proved her worth, bringing Batgirl back from the brink of obscurity and onto the New York Times best seller list. And for all of that, she got a pink slip via e-mail?

If Simone, the 42nd most prolific DC writer, wasn’t safe from termination, then who really is? Scott Snyder, current Batman writer, said on Kevin Smith’s podcast Fat Man on Batman that he feels that he could easily be replaced at DC, especially if his stories become less interesting. Although that sounds like a modest writer talking, Simone’s termination goes to show that he could be right. Who knows, after the Death of theFamily story arc wraps and his next arc sails, he could get the boot as well. What makes DC so willing to get rid of good talent anyway?Or is there more to this story than we know?

At this time, it is unknown the reasons as to why Simone was shown the door. Neither side has issued a statement on the subject. But, that doesn’t take away from the fact that her absence will be felt by many. She was in the midst of complimenting Scott Snyder’s ambitious Batman:Death of the Family story arc, which Simone contributed Batgirl issues #13 – 16 to. Some reports say that a new, unnamed writer will take over Babs duties on issue #17, but that has not been confirmed either.

But, what is known is that a lot of Batgirl fans are not happy with DC’s decision to let Simone go: